{"id":23801,"date":"2017-10-17T10:26:50","date_gmt":"2017-10-17T14:26:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mexicansummer.com\/\/?p=23801"},"modified":"2017-10-17T10:38:23","modified_gmt":"2017-10-17T14:38:23","slug":"dublab-tauhid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mexicansummer.com\/dublab-tauhid\/","title":{"rendered":"dublab :: Tauhid"},"content":{"rendered":"
With a triple ripple of Pharoah Sanders<\/a>\u2019 Tauhid, Jewels Of Thought and Summun Bukmun Umyun<\/a> \u2013 Deaf Dumb Blind<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>newly editioned on Anthology Recordings<\/a>, the label asked three of dublab\u2019s<\/a> deepest heads \u2014 Mark \u201cFrosty\u201d McNeil, Carlos Ni\u00f1o, and Mark Maxwell \u2014 to examine these albums under an intimate lens.<\/p>\n Today, Mark Maxwell (dublab, RISE \/ KPFK 90.7fm Los Angeles)\u00a0considers\u00a0Tauhid<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Pharoah\u2019s First (ESP-Disk; 1965) was technically Pharoah Sanders\u2019<\/a> debut release as a leader, but many \u2013 probably even Sanders himself \u2013 considered it to be something of a false start. The musicians on this date appeared to be playing from a post-bop paradigm that Sanders was determined to rise above. Nevertheless, two side long tunes were recorded in September of 1964 that have their moments but offer little evidence of the transcendence Pharoah was seeking. The LP was released the following year.<\/p>\n Fortunately, a new beginning was in the offing. A very auspicious beginning with far reaching repercussions. In June of 1965, Pharoah entered Rudy Van Gelder\u2019s legendary studio in Englewood Cliffs, NJ to assist John Coltrane with his free jazz classic, Ascension (Impulse; 1965). By September, Sanders was an official member of the legendary saxophonist\u2019s iconoclastic ensemble. Coltrane was\/is an artist of nearly unparalleled stature within the music and as such held considerable sway at his label. It\u2019s no coincidence that the following year Coltrane\u2019s younger bandmate completed the first of several important recordings for Impulse records.<\/p>\n \u201c[In 1966] I wanted to record Pharoah Sanders for ABC. It took me two months to get approval to record him and no one wanted to spend any money\u201d<\/em> The Tauhid<\/em><\/a> session took place back at Van Gelder\u2019s studio on November 15, 1966. It was a Tuesday sandwiched between weekend dates with Coltrane at Temple University (Philadelphia) and The Village Vanguard (NYC). Dave Burrell would go on to become a major pianistic force in the music and remains active to this day. Sonny Sharrock\u2019s strikingly edgy tone, bristling with intensity had not been heard in jazz before. A true original, he would make waves in and outside of jazz until his death in 1994. Nat Bettis eventually recorded four LP\u2019s with Sanders as well as doing dates into the 90\u2019s with Art Blakey, Donald Byrd, Gary Bartz Ntu Troop, and Norman Connors.<\/p>\nTauhid<\/a><\/h1>\n
\n-Bob Thiele, Producer<\/p>\n
\nThe recording veteran among them was bassist Henry Grimes. He had contributed to records by jazz A-listeners such as Lee Konitz, Sonny Rollins and Archie Shepp since the late 50\u2019s. Drummer Roger Blank had one major label (MGM) recording credit under his bealt and (like Pharoah) had played and recorded with Sun Ra. The date was a maiden voyage for the remaining musicians.<\/p>\n